Transportable antenna and support which can be assembled on a site



Dec. 30, 1969 .T. A. PALM 3,487,416

TRANSPORTABLE ANTENNA AND SUPPORT WHICH CAN BE ASSEMBLED ON A SITE Filed Aug. l, 1967 2 Sheets-Shearl 1 THOMAS A. PALM ,erga-MMM@ ATTORNE YS Dec. 30, 1969 T. A. PALM TRANSPORTABLE ANTENNA AND SUPPORT WHICH CAN BE ASSEMBLED ON A SITE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /NvE/v'rof? 7' HUMAS A PALM Brfwafw/ ATTORNEYS United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 343-882 7 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A sectionalized antenna system which can be transported to remote locations in units and assembled on small, uneven and unprepared sites because of adjustable supporting legs and a turntable at one end of a narrow supporting platform.

This invention relates generally to a transportable antenna system and in particular relates to a transportable troposcatter terminal antenna of a type which is readily transported by helicopters and other aircraft of known design and present capability.

It is a formidable task to establish and maintain sophisticated communication systems in mountainous areas or in areas where access is limited. In particular, the military has a great need for establishing communication networks in terrain areas of this type. Wire communications Iand other conventional communications systems are of course invaluable in military operations but such systems have Well-known limitations. A particularly valuable tool in communication across uneven terrain is the tactical deployment of high-power troposcatter antenna terminals which can -be utilized to reestablish communications when the more conventional methods of communications have been disrupted by enemy action.

Conventionally, troposcatter installations have been semi-permanent in character and the construction of same is 'a sizable undertaking in certain geographic areas where accessability is diicult. An objective of this invention is to provide a troposcatter antenna system which is readily located in remote mountainous areas.

Another objective of this invention is to provide a troposcatter antenna system wherein shelters known to military designers are used for individually housing the power and electronic equipment of the system.

The troposcatter terminal, as described herein, includes a pair of 28 foot antennas, a shelter containing a main and auxiliary power amplifier and a second shelter containing the exciters, receivers, multiplex equipment and miscellaneous circuit elements. This invention is directed to the platform for supporting the antenna, the method by which the platform is utilized to assemble the antenna and the combination of the platform with the shelters.

A still further objective of this invention is to provide a readily assembled supporting platform which has adjustable-length leg constructions whereby the platform can be quickly rendered horizontal =and sturdily supported on very uneven terrain or on terrain which has received very little physical preparation.

Another important objective of this invention is to provide a platform of the type mentioned with a turntable arrangement wherein pie-shaped sections of a parabolic 'antenna are assembled by personnel on the platform by securing a first unit to a hub section and then sequentially securing other sections of the antenna by rotating the partially completed antenna about the turntable so that an unassernbled portion of the antenna is moved adjacent the platform area where personnel are standing.

Another important objective of this invention is to provide means to raise and accurately position the assembled 3,487,416 Patented Dec. 30, 1969 ICC antenna so that it can be directionally aimed at its adjacent sending station.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following detailed description when viewed in light 0f the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE l is a diagrammatic side elevation of the antenna as supported on uneven terrain;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation showing an initial position of the antenna during erection;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation showing a second position during erection;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of a terminal location;

FIGURE 6 is a detail of a ne adjusting means; and

FIGURE 7 is a detail of a hub retraction means.

Troposcatter antenna systems of the general type as described herein have heretofore been utilized as prime and back-up communications. Troposcatter systems extend between two end stations and normally include a plurality of repeater stations therebetween. In the repeater stations, one antenna is used in each direction of transmission with one transmitter and two receivers connected to each antenna. For purposes of clarity, only one antenna is shown. Aside from the antenna in the drawings, the transmitting equipment consists of two basic units; namely, the exciter unit and the power amplifier unit. The exciter includes both a modular and a converter. However, this invention is not directed to the circuitry and electrical elements of the terminal but is directed to a combination of the 'basic units and how they can be placed in operation even in the most ditcult terrain.

The equipment utilized, although large, is quite delicate. Normally paraboloid antennas having at least 28 foot diameter are used. It is not possible to transport such antennas to remote locations in their assembled position. Therefore, the antennas of this invention are divided into pie-shaped sections which are assembled on site.

Prior to this invention, a great deal of preparation was required to ready uneven terrain for the construction of terminal units. It was required to remove the brush .and trees and to level quite a large Work area so that the antenna could be assembled and an adequate support constructed for erection thereof.

Heretofore it was not unusual to send pack units and other specialized engineering mountain teams overland days ahead of time to ready a site prior to the arrival of the terminal components. This invention reduces and in some instances eliminates the above requirements.

Generally this invention makes it practical to divide the antenna system into several components each of which can be delivered by helicopters having a capacity now known to the art. A platform is described which has a rotating hub at one end thereof and a work area at the other end thereof together with adjustable legs for leveling the platform. This combination permits a unique scheme for assembling the antenna.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals the system of this invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10. The system includes a platform 12 supported by a plurality of legs 14.

Each of the legs 14 is comprised of a plurality of sections 16 of various longitudinal lengths so that leg units of various lengths can be roughly selected. Interposed intermediate the length of each leg unit and at corners thereof are units 18 for ne adjustment. Each unit 18 is comprised of a lower member and an upper member 20 equipped with a threaded aperture for receiving threaded end of a screw 21. The screw is manually rotated by handle 22.

As can be seen in FIGURES 1 and 6, by selecting and fastening together various leg length sections and utilizing same with the adjustable members 18, the platform 12 can be accuratey leveled on uneven terrain. The sections 16 are secured together by a conventional bolting arrangement 19. The upper ends of legs 16 also are secured to the undersurface 26 of the platform 12 by bolting. The lower ends of legs 16 are embedded in concrete or otherwise secured to the terrain by means well known to the engineering arts. In normal operations several leg sections of each length are delivered to the proposed site. By analyzing the site a good crew can accurately determine the correct selection for each leg length. After the top sections of each leg are erected and approximately level, the platform 12 is lifted to its position where it is loosely secured. Final leveling is accomplished by rotating screw 21 and the bolts are then ready for tightening.

As seen in FIGURE 7, the platform 12 is formed with a relatively large threaded aperture 25 near one .of its ends. The aperture receives a hub 26 having a threaded portion 27 about its exterior surface. At its upper end the hub is -dome-shaped at 28 and at its lower end is bored at 30 to receive a crank handle 31.

This first step in the assembly of the antenna is to rotate the hub 26 so that dome 28 is above the upper surface of the platform. The next step in assembly is to position a locking ring 36 over the dome on slide or antifriction surface 37. A first section of the antenna 40 is lifted to the platform and its inner flange affixed to the ring 36 by a bolt 45 and then, as viewed in FIGURE 2, this section is rotated until a radial edge 41 thereof is disposed over the platform Work area. Sections 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, etc. are then sequentially secured to the ring and to one another. The adjacent edges 41 of the antenna and the inner edges to the ring are secured together by any suitable attachments such as bolts 47.

After the antenna is assembled, the hub is lowered by way of handle 31 until the dome is below the upper surface 59 of the platform. This permits the antenna to be moved inwardly until lug 61 on the antenna is meshed with lug 28. The lugs are then pinned by an axle member 63.

The platform 12 also houses a jacking cylinder 60 cornprised of a cylinder portion 62 pivoted about a lug 64 and a piston rod 66 having an aperture at its outer end pivotally connected to lugs 68 or 69 of the antenna 40. The jack is initially pinned to lug 69 then retracted so as to pull the antenna rearwardy until lug 61 of the antenna is meshed wtih lug 28. The jack 60 is then unpinned from 69 and pinned to lug 68. By then expanding the jack, the rather heavy antenna is jacked to an angle where the center of gravity is such that when the jack is disconnected, the members of the assembly crew can manually elevate the antenna to its vertical position.

After the antenna is raised to its elevated position (FIG- URE 4) its horizontal direction is accurately finalized by rotating the antenna about the pivot 2S. The pivot pin is received in a journal 4member 70 of the platform. When the horizontal azimuth has been set, this direction is firmed by tightening a nut member 73.

In FIGURE there is shown an emplaced troposcatter system with the exciter unit 70 and the power amplifier unit 72 located nearby. Since these units are connected by cable only they can be at different elevations than platform 12.

It can be seen from the above description that a troposcatter antenna system has been developed which can be readily transported and assembled in remote' locations and on uneven terrain. It is also a system that has not sacriced any real advantages of the troposcatter emplacements of the past, A l

In a general manner, while there has been disclosed effective and efficient embodiment of the invention, it should be well understood that the invention is not limited to such embodiment, as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition, and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope of the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A transportable antenna system comprising a plurality of ground-engaging legs, a platform supported on the upper ends of said legs, means to individually vary the length of said legs to position said platform in a horizontal plane, a turntable on said platform having a vertical axis, a ring for placement about said turntable, a plurality of pie-shape antenna sections having ring engaging edges at their inner ends and sides extending to outer arcuate edges, second means sequentially securing said sections together about said hub until said sections form a parabolic antenna, third means to elevate said antenna to a horizontal position where the plane .of said arcute sections is vertically disposed.

2. The invention described in claim 1 wherein said third means is an expandable member having one end attached to said antenna and its other end attached to said platform.

3. The invention described in claim 1 wherein each of said pie-shaped sections comprises less than one third of the assembled antenna.

4. The invention described in claim 1 wherein each of said legs consist of separable, elongated units.

5. The invention described in claim 1 wherein there are means for adjusting the horizontal direction of said vertical plane after said antenna unit has been elevated.

6. The invention described in claim 1 wherein means detachably secure said legs to said platform and said platform is of sufficient dimension to support several operators in addition to a portion of said antenna in the horizontal position.

7. The method of establishing a troposcatter communication terminal at remote locations on uneven terrain site and wherein the components of said terrain include a platform having a turntable thereon, a plurality of separated pie-shape antenna sections and a plurality of legs having adjustable lengths, comprising the steps of 1) individually transporting separate components of said terminal to said site, (2) placing the lower ends of said legs in ground engagement, f

(3) aiixing said platform to the upper ends of said legs, adjusting the length of said legs until said platform is level and the axis of said turntable is vertical, aflixing a first section of said antenna to said turntable and locating an edge thereof over said platform, afiixing an edge of a second section to said first edge and rotating the assembled sections until the other edge of said second section is over said platform, sequentially atiixing sections until said antenna is assembled and tilting said antenna to a vertical position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,010,106 11/1961 Lippitt et al. 343-915 3,377,595 4/1968 Carr et al. 343-916 ELI LIEBERMAN, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R, 343-916 

